Advent Devotion for December 7, 2019 from Apostles By-the-Sea - Episode 7

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Jude 17-25

¹⁷ But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸for they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.’ ¹⁹It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. ²⁰But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on some who are wavering; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, ²⁵to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.

Reflection:

Today, Jude highlights the second aspect of the first week of Advent, namely our responsibility to live out our faith actively before the world. Followers of Christ are told to “build themselves up” and to “pray in the Holy Spirit” because enacting these practices helps unify Christ’s body, the Church. Notice that even as we look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, we’re to have mercy on those who are wavering in their faith. With that in mind, ask yourself where God is leading you to display mercy on those wavering in their faith. As we wait for the coming King, we should do so in a posture of active, loving ministry. It is our calling and even our joy to participate in it.